These specs any good for gaming ?

[niceguyrichy]

As it says ^ looking at a laptop with the following specs, the idea being it's used for gaming when off-shore



Full Specification


Intel Core i5 430M Dual Core Processor (2.26GHz, 3MB Cache)
Genuine Windows 7™ Home Premium Edition-
16" HD Glare 16:9 panel with resolution1366 x 768
1GB ATi Mobility Radeon HD5470 Graphics - DX11
4GB DDR3 1066MHz SODIMM Memory (2x2GB)
500GB Serial ATA- 2.5" Notebook Hard Drive
DVD Super Format Dual Layer DVD Re-Writer
Built in WiFi (802.11b/g/n) Wireless LAN
Built-in Intel High Definition Audio, with 3D Effect & Full Duplex Speakers
1.3 Mega Pixel Built in Webcam
Multi Format Memory Card Reader (XD / SD/ MMC / MS)
Two Years Worldwide Parts & Labour warranty (Collection & Return in UK & Ireland)

Standard features:
Smart Li-Ion 6 Cell Battery - Approx 5 hrs Battery Life
Express Card Slot
Full size Ergonomic De-Stress UK Keyboard + Touch Pad
2x USB2.0, eSATA/USB combo, Gigabit Ethernet LAN port, Mic, Headphone output,, HDMI, D-Sub x 1
274 (L) x 247.5 (D) x 35 (H) mm 2.48Kg Inc Battery


So what you reckon ?
Will it do a job for games? Or do i need to be looking for better gfx (the other specs are pretty good IMO)

opinions welcome
Cheers guys :thumb:

[El Wayneo]

It'll be fine as the panel is only 1368 x 768 so it doesn't have to have awesome graphics on it.

Should max most games really.

[Sarky]

Not with a 5470 it won't :(

Thats the lowest end GPU AMD make, and when I had to use a 4350 (basically similar power as the 5470) when my graphics card died, I could barely run CoD 4 at 30 fps on 1200x800 odd. Had my Phenom II x4 as well.

Try to up it to a GT420/430 or 5650, that should do a lot better in games.

[niceguyrichy]

Not with a 5470 it won't :(

Thats the lowest end GPU AMD make, and when I had to use a 4350 (basically similar power as the 5470) when my graphics card died, I could barely run CoD 4 at 30 fps on 1200x800 odd. Had my Phenom II x4 as well.

Try to up it to a GT420/430 or 5650, that should do a lot better in games.

That's what I was worried about.
Money is a bit of a problem, laptops with better gfx seem to jump to min 800, whereas that one I posted I can get for 599.
Anyone know of similarly speced systems with better gfx for around the 600 mark then ?

[niceguyrichy]

What about an i3 with 4GB ram, and GeForce GT 325M 1GB ?

Better gamer machine yeah ??

[Nathan94]

What's your budget?

[niceguyrichy]

600 I reckon, give or take.
Less the better, really stretching tbh

[El Wayneo]

Apologies i looked at the wrong model of GPU.

[niceguyrichy]

Found Sony Vaio EE3Z0E @ £550

Sony VAIO E Series VPC-EE3Z0E/BQ - Phenom II P840 - RAM 6 GB - HDD 500 GB - DVD±RW (±R DL) / DVD-RAM / BD-ROM - Mobility Radeon HD 5145 - Gigabit Ethernet - WLAN : 802.11b/g/n, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR - Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (64-bit) - 15.5" Widescreen TFT 1366 x 768 ( WXGA ) - camera - matte black - Microsoft Office 2010 Preloaded

how's that sound ?
I know the gfx isn't the best, but overall it seems quite a nice package right :)

[Sarky]

What about an i3 with 4GB ram, and GeForce GT 325M 1GB ?

Better gamer machine yeah ??
That sounds a lot better, the Sony's HD5145 is slightly worse than the 5470, according to this. (http://www.notebookcheck.net/ATI-Mobility-Radeon-HD-5145.24581.0.html)

So yes, the i3 and GT325M (http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-GT-325M.24062.0.html)sounds good!

[niceguyrichy]

ok, one more question..

i've got one with this: i3 330, 4GB, HD5650 1GB

and: i5, 4GB, GT420M 1GB

thing is, the i5 is £120 more than the i3, and given my stretched_to_the_limit budget, is it really gonna be 100 quid better ??
bear in mind this thing will not be used for any kind of multi-tasking or anything more taxing than playing games & surfing the net.

[Sarky]

Go with the first in that case, the i3 is plenty powerful, especially paired with that HD5650! :)

AFAIK depending on what i5 it is, its still only a dual core, and I think the GT420 is weaker than the HD5650, so i3 is a better bet ;)

What laptop is it and how much btw?

[niceguyrichy]

ha, changed my mind again, found an i5 within price range.
gone with a Dell, i5 460M, 4GB DDR3, HD5650 1GB, and all for the knock down price of £530 delivered :thumb:

that should handle most things happily enough i reckon :)

[Sarky]

ha, changed my mind again, found an i5 within price range.
gone with a Dell, i5 460M, 4GB DDR3, HD5650 1GB, and all for the knock down price of £530 delivered :thumb:

that should handle most things happily enough i reckon :)
Great deal there! Go for it I'd say :)

[Will]

How much is it?

The laptop in my sig cost £500 :)

[niceguyrichy]

How much is it?

The laptop in my sig cost £500 :)
well in that case i got a good deal then.
bought and paid for £530. the cpu upgrade from the one in your sig is worth the extra 30 :thumb:

[Einholt]

What was the dell base model of the laptop, been looking at their site trying to figure it out but cannot find it, thanks.

[niceguyrichy]

it's an Inspiron 15R
and i didnt buy it from Dell btw..